May 13 (Bloomberg) -- The U.S. military proposed closing its submarine base in New London, Connecticut, and Fort McPherson in Georgia, and returning 14,000 overseas personnel to domestic bases in the first round of base closings and realignments in a decade.

More than 150 U.S. military bases would be closed, according to a list released by the Pentagon. Thirty-three of the bases are considered ``major,'' according to Gretchen Wintermantel, press secretary to Representative Paul Kanjorski, a Pennsylvania Democrat.

The first round of closings and realignments in a decade will save the U.S. military $48.8 billion over 20 years, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said yesterday.

``The department is recommending fewer major base closures than had earlier been anticipated,'' Rumsfeld said in a briefing yesterday at the Pentagon near Washington. ``Nonetheless, the changes that will occur will affect a number of communities.''

To contact the reporters on this story: Bill Arthur in Washington at barthur@bloomberg.net.

Last Updated: May 13, 2005 09:50 EDT